Kirby vs Covington (3A)
Kirby High School is the spot on Tuesday for regional action in 3A basketball with the home team still vying for a chance to reach the title game for the first time in over a decade. Joining them there from Memphis, the Ridgeway Roadrunners who they beat in their district title game to take the #1 seed in the regional.
The Cougars are 9-1 in their last 1o games making them one of the hottest teams left in the playoffs. What makes Kirby go? Well, CJ McClain is a start, the junior guard is averaging over 25 points a game, something that I foreshadowed for him as a young 9th grader who showed flashes of scoring pop.
Kendal Sims, a speedy junior guard, has played well; along with senior Aaron Hines, a 6’3 forward who is their best post guy and tough to keep off the offensive glass. Junior Jarvis Glenn gives them minutes as a big motor forward who provides toughness. They won their game Saturday 68-57 over Millington and now are in the Final 4 of the region. They’ve had a great season so far and hope for more to come with Coach Terry Glenn.
I think this is Glenn’s second season as their head coach and while he’s seen success this far as an assistant, it’s his first as the head guy. I asked him, “Does he think that people were surprised by the success of Kirby this season?” He said this, “Yes, I think they are surprised coach, it feels so good. I wish coach was here to see this.” When referring to “coach” he is referring to Dickie Sims, the father of Kendal Sims who passed away a few years ago. The 2 were very close and he’s maintained the relationship with his son who is a catalyst on this team.
Covington is a team that is always going to play hard, no matter what kids are there, that’s in their DNA. They won’t be the biggest team or the most talented but what they may lack in that area, they more than make up for in how hard they play. Based on that alone, I wouldn’t count out a Chargers team that always seems to be around this time of year. They beat Power Center 50-46 Saturday and with the battles that Kirby and PCA had this year, that should tell you, this might be a really good game to go watch at 7:30.
Ridgeway vs Munford
I think Munford got to this game last year, but they have their sights set a lot higher especially with this being Jadyn Lee’s last season. He’s been one of their best players in school history. The senior leads his team in the 3 major categories, points, rebounds and assist. He’s averaging right at 26 (25.7) and almost 9 rebounds a game. He is their do it all and he will be a problem for Ridgeway to deal with all night but the Roadrunners are battle tested having played some tough early season games to prepare them for where they find themselves now, 1 game away from a sub state appearance.
Elisha Patrick averages 16.4 points per game. He will be a player Ridgeway needs to keep someone on as well. Lee is going to find ways to score, he’s the area’s leading scorer for a reason. The key for Ridgeway is to limit clean looks and make everything contested for him.
Ridgeway has some guys for Munford to worry about in their trio of guards: Kayin Mitchell, Demario Johnson and Marjavis Chandler. How Munford is able to match up with them will be important. Munford can’t use a lot of zones because those guards are capable of making the 3 ball. Can Munford go man? Munford’s coach has to decide but Ridgeway I think has a better guard core even if by the slimmest of margins. Those 3 have all played in huge games, Mitchell the last 2 years and Johnson and Chandler, the last 2-3 years playing here and in the state tournament. The experience is there, there isn’t a lot of youth with either team. That bodes well for both teams because that means they can handle pressure.
Mitchell’s role is bigger now than in his 9th and 10th grade year and I think he will relish that and play well along with Johnson and Chandler. Chandler scores it well and Johnson is a really underrated point guard who knows how to win. I think Ridgeway has to get off to a good start and not fall behind which I don’t think they will do because of the familiarity with the gym too. They must group rebound as well. The most obvious thing for the Roadrunner’s will be to limit Lee’s production. If Lee gets to 25, I don’t think Munford’s chances to win increase but if he’s under 20, I like Ridgeway to edge this one out.
